The Ford vs. Chevrolet rivalry has been around longer than dogs vs. cats or paper vs. plastic bags. Even longer than hot coffee vs. iced coffee in the summertime. This 1993 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning muscle truck would be my pick. The seller has this example listed here on eBay, it’s located in Milford, Connecticut, and the seller is listing it through their dealership in Georgia where they split their time with Connecticut. There is a fantastic opening photo, the current bid price is $15,600, there is no reserve, and there are four days left to get your bids in.
I like all of the above (well, not cats), but my vote would be for this ’93 SVT Lightning. Ford needed a rival for Chevy’s 454SS pickup and this was it. I missed the boat on the first-generation Lightning, made for model years 1993 through 1995, as prices are on the rise. Big shocker, the only and I mean only vehicle prices that aren’t rising are vehicles that I own. Hagerty is at $23,500 for a #3 good condition truck and this one appears to be more in the #2 excellent condition range which they have listed at a whopping $35,800! Yep, I missed the boat. I predict that if this truck doesn’t get well over the #3 value the auction will magically disappear since there is no reserve.
The Special Vehicles Team (SVT) Ford Lightning was based on Ford’s F-150 half-ton shortbed pickup and the first-gen models are the most interesting to me. Are they the fastest? No. Are they the best? It depends on how a person defines the term best, but I like them for the throwback look to Ford’s square pickups. I wasn’t a fan of the second-generation Lightning, it’s too swoopy-woopy for me. It was faster and probably better, but give me this first-year Lightning all day long. The seller has nailed a grand slam in providing over 150 photos on their website here.
The seller has provided many good photos, including one inside the bed – including an added motorcycle mount – and an underside photo showing what appears to be a very clean example. If this is a Connecticut truck, a state on the ocean, and having at least some snow at times, I don’t see any corrosion at all and the seller doesn’t mention any. In fact, they say “zero rust” – my two favorite words in the vintage vehicle world. They also say that it’s wearing its original paint and there doesn’t appear to be any dings, dents, or scratches visible from the photos. The interior looks equally outstanding with Lightning-logo highback bucket seats and what appears to be a crack-free dash.
The engine is Ford’s 351 cubic-inch Windsor V8 with multi-port EFI and it had 240 horsepower. It was backed up by Ford’s heavy-duty E4OD four-speed automatic transmission – there was no manual option. This truck drives and works perfectly with no issues, according to the seller. The first-gen SVT Lightning didn’t scare too many Chevy 454SS owners but I know which one I’d take. How about you?
As usual, Scotty has nailed this truck. It’s not the fastest truck and later versions upped both the performance and luxury quotients, but this SVT offering was well-done and cool with its monochromatic look. This generation of Ford pickups are picking up in popularity and therefore price, so it stands to reason the hi-po version commands top dollar. A fun alternative to a muscle “car”.
You are way too kind as always, Bob, thanks. I would take this truck over any muscle car that I can think of.
Monochromatic, sure just not nearly the performance of the 2003 lightning and the is no chrome on my 03. Same frills power seat windows. Oh wait I can’t play a cassette but can play a CD. Later trucks are faster and handle better. 2003 was the peak of these great trucks. More power, faster steering better handling and lower rear gearing. It honestly drives like a late sixties early 70’s muscle car and not that much heavier. The first generation caught my attention but following them 03 I pulled the trigger and no regrets. Yeah the viper powered Dodge was a tick quicker but was quite a bit more money and Ford’s SVT knew what they were doing.
I’m with ya, Scotty! Always have loved these first gens since the day they were introduced. I missed the boat on them too – passed on them when they were $5k used trucks. The Bronco community loved the engines out of the wrecked ones too – I can still remember the shells of several of them sitting in my friend’s junkyard back in the day.
Just one minor correction: ’93 Lightnings were in fact slightly faster than the anemic Chevy 454s. 15.7 sec vs 15.8 sec for chevy, and slightly higher speed at the flag. Motortrend and others did side by side comparisons.
At the start of covid, in my brilliance I thought prices for vintage vehicles were going to crash and sold my pristine 48K mile ’93 Lightning for $19.5 K. Such is life!
It should have scared all owners of 454 Chevy PU’s since they could not manage to out run the one this old man owned no matter how many times they tried, it did not matter if it was my 93 or later the 95 lightning PU I owned I managed to out run them in the 1/4 mile by better than a truck length everytime!
SS 454’s Were Boat Anchors, SVT Lighting All Day, Had a friend in the Navy had a Ford Nite that would run. Beautiful Truck, Always Loved This Body Style. https://www.blueovaltech.com/special/nite.php
First gen lightning couldn’t hang with my 94 Dodge Dakota sport.
I special ordered it with the V8 318 5-speed heavy duty suspension short bed short cab 355 gears it smoked the first generation lightnings.
That would be the result of the fact that there was a dramatic difference in the weight of these two trucks, the Dodge you are referring to was and is in the class of Ford Ranger not full sized PU like the F150. Try at least to compare apples to apples not apples to oranges !!
Auction update: this beauty/beast sold for $24,601, potentially a great deal, at least according to Hagerty’s value numbers.
When I purchased my 93 it cost me $20,000 and 4 years later I purchased my 95 and paid 14,000 for it used with 15000 miles on it. I had previously sold my 93 whenit had 100,000 miles on it and acquired a 97 Dodge Dakota which got better fuel milage even with 4 WD . But I longed for my Lightening which is why I purchased the used 95 which I put 100,000 more miles on. Those Lightnings were Fast comfortable and reasonably fuel efficient considering the 4:10 differential !
Scotty: That deal must have fallen through, or the seller didn’t like that final amount and reneged. It has been listed again, except this time he is looking for $28,499 straight out.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/165584518722?ViewItem=&item=165584518722&vxp=mtr